Chapter 1017 The Emperor's Thoughts (Third update, please subscribe)
"So what?"
Wang Youling's tone was full of contempt.
"They are just a bunch of stray dogs. There is nothing to be afraid of."
As the iron-fisted governor of Shanxi at that time, Wang Youling was extremely conceited when he said this. This conceit was more of a self-confidence.
It was a contempt for those people. After all, it was he who drove those people away from here like stray dogs.
How could we possibly look down upon the threats posed by those people now?
threaten?
What a joke, he was thankful that he wasn't scared by those stray dogs when he arrived in Peru.
With a cold smile, Wang Youling changed the subject.
"The reason why Wang is going to Peru this time is to find out the truth about saltpeter..."
After spitting out these two words, he said again.
"It is said that saltpeter supports the finances of the Peru-Bolivia Federation! It has supported their national construction over the years. I want to see the changes in the local area with my own eyes."
"Prime Minister, there are definitely changes, but they are not as big as the outside world says."
Kang Chengren, the governor of Shanxi, introduced it directly.
"As we all know, the Federation was established to guard against the Ming Dynasty. Today, saltpeter is the economic pillar of the Federation, not in the present, but in the future. ... In 1870, the Federation's saltpeter exports were only 85,000 tons, and the export tax earned by the Federation that year was only over 2 million pesos. But 10 years later, in 1880, that is, last year, it had increased to 575,000 tons, with a market value of more than 89 million pesos. The export tax alone exceeded 13 million pesos, plus various taxes paid by the mines. At present, the Federation can earn 20 million pesos from the saltpeter trade every year. According to market demand and investment, its export volume will exceed 1 million tons in five years at most, and the Federation's income will exceed 40 million yuan by then!"
40 million!
This number surprised Wang Youling.
"40 million! That's a lot. Finance is the mother of all government affairs. With 40 million, they can do a lot of things."
"That's right, my Lord Prime Minister. You should have heard that the Federation purchased two battleships and several cruisers in the UK last year. To put it bluntly, the surge in fiscal revenue gave them the funds to strengthen their armaments, and this can be a real threat to the Empire!"
When mentioning the threat posed by the Federation to the Empire, Kang Chengren added.
"Moreover, 30% of this money was contributed by the Empire. Last year, the Empire imported 180,000 tons of saltpeter, and this year, by October, it had already exceeded 180,000 tons. It is expected that this year's import volume will exceed 220,000 tons. After all, both agriculture and the chemical industry cannot do without sodium saltpeter."
Saltpeter was imported for the purpose of making fertilizers. Both plantations in African colonies and domestic farms in the Ming Dynasty needed fertilizers, and the demand for fertilizers was increasing.
"So how many saltpeter mines do we have locally?"
“Very little!”
Since most of the Ming Dynasty's saltpeter fertilizer companies were in Shanxi, Kang Chengren was naturally very familiar with this industry.
"Although we are the largest market for Peruvian saltpeter, among the companies at that time, Peruvian capital accounted for 36%, British capital accounted for 20%, German capital accounted for 17%, British immigrants' capital accounted for 14%, and other nationalities' capital accounted for 13%. Now British capital is rising rapidly, which has a lot to do with their increased investment. Although our companies have been trying to invest in this industry, they passed the corresponding law as early as 1866 - investments in important departments such as saltpeter mines must be approved by Congress. Even if we invest in the name of overseas Chinese, it is difficult to pass the review because..."
Taking over Kang Chengren's words, Wang Youling sighed.
"Because we are a threat to them! When the empire was first established, in order to ease external relations, we did not oppose the establishment of the Peru-Bolivia Federation, even though the establishment of this federation was aimed at the Ming Dynasty."
As the prime minister of the empire, Wang Youling was of course very clear about the reason. He took a deep breath and then said.
"This time, the reason why I want to go to Peru is to find out the truth. If there is a chance, I will find a way to make them open up their market! What they are doing is against the principle of free trade!"
While saying this, Wang Youling couldn't help but feel a little excited. This was just an excuse!
It’s not an excuse to stir up trouble in Peru, but… an excuse to write a letter to His Majesty!
You see, although we are all retired, we still care about national affairs!
On that day, after visiting retired veterans at the Veterans Home, Wang Youling wrote a letter to His Majesty.
A few days later, when Emperor Zhu received Wang Youling's letter, he chuckled and agreed with the contents of the letter.
"Qian Degong, what do you think about opening up the Peruvian market?"
"Your Majesty, this is an open market. We need to look at it separately. Just from the perspective of the market, the Peruvian market is also open. Last year, Peru imported more than 25 million yuan worth of various products from Ming Dynasty, ranging from small matches to large sets of machinery and equipment, merchant ships, and trains."
In the past decade, although Latin American countries have boycotted Ming industrial products to varying degrees due to the demise of Chile, Argentina and Brazil, they have only boycotted verbally. After all, for the people of Latin American countries, they cannot do without the high-quality and low-priced Ming products. Now, thanks to the free trade advocated by the British Empire for half a century, the empire's products have long been sold all over the world.
Then Qian Degong changed the subject and said.
"But from the perspective of commercial investment, Peru is using public opinion to obstruct Ming capital and Ming expatriates' investment in the local area. How can the empire accept such behavior that damages the empire's commercial interests? Therefore, in my opinion, if the king can make progress in this regard, it will be a blessing for our Ming Dynasty."
Although he said this, Qian Degong felt quite uncomfortable in his heart. Why did he feel uncomfortable? Wang Youling was no longer a retired official. You could have stayed in the country, but you went abroad. This really did not take diplomacy seriously.
"However, in my opinion, Your Majesty should prevent the old prime minister from going to Peru."
"Are you worried that something might happen to him?"
Emperor Zhu laughed.
"This is just groundless worry. Don't worry, nothing will happen to him there."
In fact, at the beginning, Emperor Zhu was worried that something might happen to Wang Youling there. After all, there were hundreds of thousands of Chilean exiles living in the Peru-Bolivia Federation. Although most of them had acquired Peruvian citizenship and become Peruvians, their dissatisfaction, hostility, and even hatred towards the empire were extremely normal.
And in the eyes of many Chileans, Wang Youling is an executioner whose hands are stained with the blood of Chileans!
Isn't it a trap for him to go to Chile?
Therefore, after receiving the letter, Emperor Zhu made a special deduction. Although there was only one chance left for long-term deduction, short-term deduction... could still be used at will.
The result of the deduction is... not to mention no danger, there wasn't even any surprise!
"Oh, by the way, there is one more thing I want to tell you. You know that the Queen is the chairman of the Military Families Committee. She received a letter two days ago. Take a look."
While speaking, Emperor Zhu handed the letter he had received from the Queen to Qian Degong.
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
